Sep. 8, 2013

Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner / Julian H. Gonzalez/DFP

Written by

Zach Travis

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Zach Travis is a manager of the Wolverines blog Maize n Brew. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Read his column every week here and contact him anytime at zwtravis@gmail.com.

The moment was nearly incomprehensible given what had come before. Devin Gardner moved to his right to escape the pocket that was rapidly breaking down, but it was into the teeth of a blitz. He flipped around — turning his back to the defense — in an effort to get to the left, but it only took him deep into the end zone. Under duress and with two Notre Dame players hanging on him, he flipped the ball away from everyone but one player: Stephon Tuitt.

“Coach Borges talked about the top three causes of an interception,” Gardner said after the game, “and one of them is desperately trying to avoid a sack.” It was a terrible mistake that could not have happened at a worse time. But in this game, it was a blip on the radar.

Michigan needed every bit of brilliance it received from Gardner on Saturday, and in the process he showed just what he is capable of, both good and bad.

The stats alone are impressive. Gardner completed 21 of 33 passes for 294 yards. He would throw four of those for touchdowns compared to just one interception. After a small sample size day against Central Michigan where the rust was still apparent early, Gardner came out hot against Notre Dame. U-M would go 118 yards on 12 plays over the first two drives and put 10 quick points on the board.

A big factor in that was the comfortable relationship that Gardner has developed with receiver Jeremy Gallon over the last year. The two spent a lot of time in the offseason honing their timing, and it showed on Saturday as Gallon was easily Gardner’s favorite target, hauling in eight passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns.

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It was impressive watching the way the two played off each other. Gallon would pull up at just the right moment for a back shoulder fade or slip right into the soft spot of the zone. Gardner would find him every time.

This was not an easy night for Gardner. Notre Dame features a big, talented defensive front line, and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco loves to bring pressure from all over the field. Gardner spent much of the afternoon having to feel that pressure coming, avoid it, and make quick accurate throws into the soft spots vacated by the blitz. He handled this task with aplomb, finding his tight ends and slot receiver Drew Dileo on short routes over the middle, and he was sacked just once.

When the Notre Dame defense over extended itself, Gardner’s legs took over. On a variety of called runs and scrambles, Gardner gashed the Irish defense. Early in the game on the goal line, he audibled into a called option, then made the defense commit to the outside before taking a quick cutback lane for the touchdown. Later, he took the ball 35 yards up the sideline on an inverted veer. His gains on the ground were so effortless and smooth that the announcers mistakenly called him Denard Robinson more than once; a fitting ode to the last quarterback to slice up the Notre Dame defense under the lights of the Big House.

Michigan’s offense, for the last three years, has been defined by Robinson. He was a ball of energy rattling around the backfield, shooting through gaps. But it was always the combustible kind that could blow up in your hands at any time. Gardner shares some of those traits. His effortless athleticism makes his moves around and through the defense seem to happen at a different speed. When combined with his ability to throw the ball down the field, this makes for a nightmare matchup for defensive coordinators.

The issues are still apparent. Occasionally Gardner’s mechanics fail him, causing him to turf a ball instead of putting it where his receiver can catch it. And sometimes, in an effort to turn a broken play into a big one, he runs himself into a trap.

But on a big stage against a strong defense, Gardner took his game to a different level and showed flashes of the offense to come at Michigan. One that passes the ball down the field and uses the tailback between the tackles. Never afraid to catch an opponent off guard with a swing pass to the flat or a reverse. All of it led by a calm, savvy quarterback that has a knack for coming up with a big play.

Gardner still has a ways to go before reaching his potential as a quarterback, but Saturday proved he has plenty of ability to win now — even with a few mistakes.